The second day of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 European Qualifiers brought real tension for Counter-Strike fans. Some matches were neck-and-neck battles where every round counted, while others ended in crushing defeats that left no room for a comeback. Teams gave it their all, knowing that each match could mean the difference between a dream and disappointment — a spot at the Major was on the line.
Head-to-head clashes
The most anticipated match of the day was between HEROIC and Nemiga, both entering the series with a 2-0 record. The first map, Dust2, was a balanced affair in the first half (6:6), but after the switch, tN1R, yxngstxr, and the rest of HEROIC found their rhythm. Nemiga managed to take only two rounds on the defense, and the map ended in favor of HEROIC.
On Mirage, HEROIC’s map pick, zweih, Xant3r, and the rest of Nemiga put up a strong fight, forcing the game into overtime. But HEROIC held their nerve and closed it out 16:13. With this win, HEROIC finish the qualifier stage with a 3-0 record and become the first European team to qualify for the Major.
Best Match Stats:
- Most kills: SunPayus – 28
- Most damage: XANTARES – 100.7
- Most assists: xfl0ud – 8
- Most AWP kills: SunPayus – 18
- Most opening kills: XANTARES – 6
- Highest rating: SunPayus – 1.4
Another team to secure their spot was OG. Their clash with Metizport went the distance, requiring all three maps to determine the victor. OG, led by standout performances from Chr1zN and spooke, eventually came out on top with a 2-1 series win. Despite strong resistance from adamb, Plopski, and isak on the Metizport side, OG’s 3-0 record sends them straight to the Major.
At the other end of the bracket, teams fought for survival. In the match between B8 and Parivision, every map was a battle: Dust2 went to Parivision (13:11), Mirage was secured by B8 (13:7), and the decider on Anubis needed overtime. headtr1ck, esenthial, and the B8 squad edged out a 16:13 win, keeping their dreams alive and sending Parivision home.
Meanwhile, GamerLegion, featuring REZ, PR, and sl3nd, made quick work of 500 with back-to-back blowouts: 13:2 on Anubis and the same score on Ancient. CeRq, oxygeN, and the rest of 500 exit the tournament without a single win.
The battle is over: Parivision and 500 say goodbye to the tournament
Despite their elimination, Parivision showed resilience and moments of solid play — their win over B8 on Dust2, for instance, proved they can challenge even more experienced opponents. However, inconsistency throughout the qualifier and tough matchups against stronger teams prevented them from advancing. Still, the qualifier served as a valuable experience for the young roster, which clearly has room to grow.
As for 500, they leave the tournament with a disappointing record — not a single win and only a handful of rounds won in their final matches. For the Bulgarian squad, this is a wake-up call that may lead to roster changes or a complete reassessment of their preparation. Despite having notable names like CeRq and oxygen, the team looked lost at times, and their performance fell far short of expectations.
Who’s next?
A crucial final day awaits. Teams with a 2-1 record — Nemiga, Metizport, Astralis, 9 Pandas, BIG, and BetBoom — are just one win away from the Major. For those at 1-2 — ENCE, SAW, BC.Game, fnatic, B8, and GamerLegion — tomorrow will be their last shot at keeping the dream alive. Every match will be a do-or-die.
The tournament bracket looks as follows:
